How bad is the rain, really?

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Permalink Reply by Rain Bojangles on January 17, 2010 at 11:16am

It depends on how you feel about rain and outdoor activities. I loved the occasional warm rains we would enjoy growing up as a child in the south, but I found myself with the need to stay in Portland for 20 years (to raise a child) and the drizzly, misty, foggy, damp honeymoon is definitely over for me. Only now I have found some wonderful friends and a great neighborhood to call my own so I have learned to accept the gray days and weeks as part and parcel of the lush and beautiful green landscape that native Portlandians take for granted.

Finding "cat friendly" housing is not difficult, at least not in my neighborhood (SE) where pets abound and merchants put out water dishes on the sidewalk in summer. Furry creatures are everywhere here, mostly dogs but I see cats on nearly every walkabout I take.

We have one of the best public transport systems in the country, with most parts of the city enjoying bus or max (train) service from around 5 am until midnight or later, some routes running as often as every 10-15 minutes at peak times. Bikes are allowed free on all public transport. Portland is also a very bike friendly city, with a very visible and very vocal rider presence with laws providing for a full lane for bicyclists on the street, but that doesn't mean that riders don't occasionally get killed. With so many cyclists it is bound to happen a bit more frequently, and does.

For me the ideal would be to live in PDX for the summer only, and travel in a warmer clime the rest of the time, but I have a sweet housing deal so it is cheaper to "sit it out" while I finger pick and watch the rain.

Feel free to contact me if you have more questions. Sounds like you would be a good fit if you don't mind being damp a lot.

Blessings.

G

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Permalink Reply by Leslie Pierson on January 17, 2010 at 11:24am

Thanks for responding so quickly! While the rain factor is a concern, so far I've heard many things that might make up for that. Thanks for alleviating my other concerns. When I got a cat 5 years ago I didn't realize how pet unfriendly some cities/apartments are. I'm glad to hear that the public transportation is up to snuff. I lived in Chicago for 4 years and got spoiled rotten by their mass transit! Any neighborhood suggestions? I'm single so I'm not ready for the suburbs yet. Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Rego on January 17, 2010 at 1:19pm

Hi there,
I think your perception of the rain depends on where you are coming from. I grew up in the Boston, MA area and moved out here 5 years ago. I LOVE the winters here. The rain is nothing compared to bitter cold, constant snow and ice storms and horrible bitter winters. If we get a 1/4 inch of snow here, the place shuts down, and the rains are usually warm. It doesn't rain here any more than it snowed / rained back east. Out here there is actually a spring too, and it's spectacular to see everything coming to life and blooming. The outdoor options are so worth it and made possible by the rains we get.

If you lived in Chicago, you probably will think the winters mild here. But if you come from Southern California you'll most likely see things differently.

Hope that helps. As far as neighborhoods, I'd say if you are more yuppy, trendy then try the NW or SW areas of Portland. If there is more hippy, funky in you then try SE or NE. N. Portland might be the only place I'd steer away from if you are new to the area (or anyplace farther out than NE or SE 82nd area as there are more gang related incidents the farther east past 82nd you go.) But everywhere here is just great.

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Permalink Reply by Leslie Pierson on January 18, 2010 at 1:56pm

Thanks for the tips Jennifer. So far I'm loving how helpful and friendly the people from Portland are!

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Permalink Reply by Leslie Pierson on January 18, 2010 at 11:13pm

Thanks Steffanie! It's nice to get a new transplant's POV on things.

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Permalink Reply by AngelPdx on January 20, 2010 at 11:38am

I've lived in Portland 10 years, and have no plans to leave. Sometimes the rain is lovely. Sometimes it is tiring. But it's not that bad, great colors throughout winter & not too cold most of the time. If you like rain, so worries, but I literally have worn out my rain boots in two winters, so do know we are not joking! Pet friendly & good transit, although you need to be willing to bike, walk & wait for the bus in the rain. The economy is a much bigger challenge than the weather.

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Permalink Reply by Angela Higgins on January 20, 2010 at 6:39pm

Totally agree with AngelPdx....the rain CAN and WILL get on your nerves. Most of the locals express a love for foggy, wet weather and if you can't handle about 5 months of it (with a few breaks here and there), do not move here as you will suffer!

Pets? Easy! Portland is a pet loving city.

Transportation? We have it made. From buses to streetcar to a sweet light rail system and its all real nice.

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